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The Ankeric Shield is not an implement for individual combat, but rather for line formations. When interlocked, they form an impenetrable mobile fortress of hardwood and bronze, but the unit's reduced mobility makes them more vulnerable to flanking attacks.
The Ankeric Shield is a broad, ovaloid shield constructed from layers of hardened hardwood bound by bronze ribs and edge fittings. Designed for use in disciplined, linear formations, it served as the cornerstone of Ankeric warfare doctrine, pairing seamlessly with the Ankeric Spear to form dense, interlocking lines of defense.
The shield’s shape and size allowed it to cover nearly the entire body from chin to knee, enabling soldiers to advance methodically under missile fire while maintaining cohesion. Though heavy and cumbersome, it could absorb immense punishment: arrows, sling stones, and even the mighty Ferozen war axe often failed to go through. When locked edge-to-edge, Ankeric formations formed a bronze-rimmed wall, advancing like a single organism under the command signals of the drums and Didgeridoo.
Individual craftsmanship varied: elite warriors often engraved their shields with spiral motifs, clan markings, or totemic sigils, both for identification and to invoke spiritual protection. In later centuries, the Ankeric Shield became a ceremonial emblem of duty and unity, still carried by honour guards and parades of the Armed Forces of the Oceanykan Federation.